Development Co‑operation Profiles: Latvia
Table of contents
Latvia’s development co-operation seeks to promote sustainable development, poverty eradication and resilient governance systems in partner countries. It focuses primarily on the European Union’s (EU) Eastern Partnership and Central Asia and, more recently, selected African countries, drawing on Latvia’s transition experience and expertise in governance, digitalisation and socio-economic reform. In 2025, Latvia became the 33rd member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). Latvia’s total official development assistance (ODA) (USD 86.5 million, preliminary data) decreased in 2025, representing 0.18% of gross national income (GNI).
This profile presents verified data on Latvia’s development assistance allocations. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
The Law on International Assistance, adopted in 2008, establishes the regulatory framework for Latvia’s development co-operation, defining key stakeholders’ roles. The Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines for 2021-2027 set Latvia’s strategic priorities, centred on sustainable development, poverty eradication and good governance, and are implemented through the Development Cooperation Policy Plan for 2024-2027. Latvia’s bilateral co-operation concentrates on the European Union’s Eastern Partnership countries and Central Asia, while engaging in selected African countries. Its draws on Latvia’s transition experience, including in democratic governance, digitalisation, socio-economic reform and gender equality, and aims to foster regional stability through targeted partnerships, knowledge sharing, and support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
Latvia joined the European Union in 2004 and has since contributed its expertise to EU institutions’ development co-operation initiatives. Latvia’s multilateral development co-operation aligns with its Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines for 2021-2027, addressing global challenges beyond priority partners. Latvia’s commitment to international sustainable development is consistent with its national implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, guided by the Sustainable Development Strategy of Latvia 2030 and the National Development Plan of Latvia for 2021-2027, embedding sustainability in the country’s development planning system.
Latvia provided USD 86.5 million (preliminary data) of ODA in 2025 (USD 80.3 million in constant terms), representing 0.18% of GNI.1 This was a decrease of 9% in real terms in volume and a decrease in the share of GNI from 2024. Latvia’s ODA volume shows a gradual increase from 2011 to 2021, followed by a significant spike in 2022 and 2023 mainly due to in-donor refugee costs and support to Ukraine. Latvia is committed to increasing its ODA to meet the European Union’s goal of achieving a 0.33% ODA/GNI ratio by 2030. Total ODA on a grant-equivalent basis has the same value as net ODA under the cash-flow methodology used in the past, as Latvia provides only grants.
In 2025, Latvia ranked 34th among Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries in terms of ODA volume and 25th when ODA is taken as a share of GNI. Before the sharp increase in Latvia’s ODA in 2022 and 2023, Latvia provided more aid through multilateral channels than bilateral ones. In 2024, Latvia’s in‑donor refugee costs amounted to USD 14.8 million (55.2% of gross bilateral ODA). In line with its policy priorities, Latvia allocated a significant share of its bilateral ODA to Europe. Additionally, the majority of its multilateral ODA is provided as core contributions to the EU institutions.
Latvia is committed to several international targets and DAC standards and recommendations. Learn more about DAC Recommendations.
Notes: This table only includes information about ODA data-related DAC recommendations. ODA: official development assistance; GNI: gross national income; DAC: Development Assistance Committee.
Latvia provided most of its ODA multilaterally in 2024. Gross bilateral ODA was 30.3% of total ODA disbursements. Of this, 13.9% was channelled through multilateral organisations (earmarked contributions).
In 2024, Latvia provided USD 65.2 million of gross ODA to the multilateral system, a fall of 20.4% in real terms from 2023. Of this, USD 61.5 million was core multilateral ODA (69.7% of total ODA), while USD 3.7 million was non-core contributions earmarked for a specific country, region, theme or purpose. Project-type funding earmarked for a specific theme and/or country accounted for 10.3% of Latvia’s non‑core contributions, and 89.7% was programmatic funding (to pooled funds and specific-purpose programmes and funds). The European institutions (USD 53.3 million) are Latvia’s main multilateral partner, followed by the World Bank (USD 7.9 million).
The United Nations (UN) system received 3.9% of Latvia’s contributions to multilateral organisations, of which USD 0.9 million (34.5%) represented earmarked contributions. Out of a total volume of USD 2.5 million to the UN system, the top three UN recipients of Latvia’s support (core and earmarked contributions) were the World Health Organization (USD 490 000), the UN Secretariat (USD 450 000) and the United Nations Environment Programme (USD 200 000).
See the section on Geographic, sectoral and thematic focus of ODA for the breakdown of bilateral allocations, including ODA earmarked through the multilateral development system.
Learn more by exploring the DAC members’ use of the multilateral system dashboard.
In 2024, Latvia’s bilateral spending declined compared to the previous year. It provided USD 26.8 million of gross bilateral ODA (which includes earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations). This represented a decrease of 64.9% in real terms from 2023. Latvia’s bilateral co‑operation currently concentrates on seven priority partners, of which four are in the EU Eastern Partnership – Moldova and Ukraine, as well as support to Belarus’ and Georgia’s civil society and independent media, and three are in Central Asia – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
In 2024, country programmable aid amounted to USD 6.7 million, or 25.1% of Latvia’s gross bilateral ODA, compared to the DAC country average of 46.5%.
Latvia’s in-donor refugee costs amounted to USD 14.8 million (55.2% of gross bilateral ODA) in 2024, while humanitarian aid was USD 3 million, or 11.2% of gross bilateral ODA.
In 2024, Latvia channelled its bilateral ODA mainly through public sector and NGOs. Technical co‑operation made up 3.1% of gross ODA in 2024.
In 2024, civil society organisations (CSOs) received USD 4.4 million of gross bilateral ODA, of which 0.5% was directed to developing country-based CSOs. Overall, 1.8% of gross bilateral ODA was allocated to CSOs as core contributions and 14.5% was channelled through CSOs to implement projects initiated by the donor (earmarked funding). From 2023 to 2024, the combined core and earmarked contributions for CSOs increased as a share of bilateral ODA, from 2.5% to 16.3%.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid and by exploring the ODA to civil society organisations dashboard.
In 2024, Latvia’s bilateral ODA primarily focused on ODA-eligible countries in Europe. USD 8.5 million was allocated to ODA-eligible countries in Europe (of which 95.5% for Ukraine) and USD 1.2 million to Asia (excluding the Middle East), accounting respectively for 31.6% and 4.6% of gross bilateral ODA. USD 500 000 was allocated to countries in Africa. Europe was also the main regional recipient of Latvia’s earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, in line with its focus on its immediate neighbourhood and its policy priorities.
In 2024, 36.5% of gross bilateral ODA went to Latvia’s top 10 recipients. Its top four recipients – Ukraine, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Moldova – are also designated priority partners, while the remaining countries are mostly located in Central Asia, with Namibia and Ghana as outliers. The share of gross bilateral ODA not allocated by country was 61.5%, of which 89.8% consisted of expenditures for processing and hosting refugees in provider countries.
In 2024, Latvia allocated 0.02% of its GNI to the least developed countries (LDCs). Latvia allocated the highest share of gross bilateral ODA (32.8%) to lower middle-income countries in 2024, noting that 61.5% was unallocated by income group. The LDCs received 0.6% of Latvia’s gross bilateral ODA (USD 200 000). Additionally, Latvia allocated 3.6% of gross bilateral ODA to land-locked developing countries in 2024, equal to USD 1 million.
The distribution of Latvia’s ODA in net terms in relation to “ODA per person in extreme poverty”2 was USD 0.1 in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) and USD 0.1 in upper middle-income countries.
In 2025, Latvia provided USD 9.7 million of net bilateral ODA to Ukraine to respond to the impacts of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, an 11.1% increase from 2024 in real terms. USD 8.4 million of the amount was humanitarian assistance in 2025, a 205.5% increase in real terms from 2024.
Support to contexts with high and extreme fragility was USD 400 000 in 2024, representing 1.3% of Latvia’s gross bilateral ODA. Of this ODA, 24.7% was provided in the form of humanitarian assistance, a decrease from 54.2% in 2023, while 3.6% was allocated to peace, an increase from 0.1% in 2023.
Learn more about the States of Fragility platform.
In 2024, more than half of Latvia’s bilateral ODA was allocated to other macro sectors, in particular support for refugees in donor countries. Investments in this area accounted for 65.2% of bilateral ODA commitments (USD 18 million), with a strong focus on support to refugees in donor countries (USD 14.8 million), general budget support (USD 1.6 million) and administrative costs of donors (USD 1.3 million). ODA for social infrastructure and services totalled USD 4.6 million, with a focus on government and civil society (USD 2.3 million). Humanitarian assistance amounted to USD 3 million (11.2% of bilateral ODA). Earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations also focused on social sectors and other macro sectors in 2024.
In the period 2023-2024, Latvia committed 4% of screened bilateral allocable ODA to gender equality and women’s empowerment compared to 5.7% in 2021-2022 and a DAC average of 48.2% in 2023-2024. This is equal to USD 900 000 of screened bilateral allocable ODA in support of gender equality on average per year. In addition:
The share of screened bilateral allocable ODA committed to gender equality and women’s empowerment as a principal objective was 2.8% in 2023-2024, compared with the DAC average of 4.2%.
Latvia includes gender equality objectives in 2.8% of ODA for humanitarian aid, below the 2023‑2024 DAC average of 21.5%.
Latvia screens virtually all bilateral allocable ODA against the DAC gender equality policy marker (100% in 2023-2024).
Latvia committed USD 200 000 of ODA to end violence against women and girls, and USD 100 000 to support women’s rights organisations and movements, and government institutions on average per year in 2023-2024.
Learn more by reading the DAC Recommendation on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance and the DAC Recommendation on Ending Sexual Exploitation in Development Co-operation, and by exploring the development finance for gender equality dashboard.
In 2023-2024, Latvia committed 1.6% of its total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 400 000) in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 0.8% in 2021-2022. The DAC average was 39%. In addition:
0.6% of screened bilateral allocable ODA focused on environmental issues as a principal objective, compared with the DAC average of 11.2%.
1.1% of total bilateral allocable ODA (USD 300 000) focused on climate change overall (the DAC average was 35.4%), up from 0.4% in 2021-2022. Latvia had a slightly greater focus on mitigation (0.7%) than on adaptation (both 0.6%) in 2023-2024.
0.5% of screened bilateral allocable ODA (USD 100 000) focused on biodiversity overall (the DAC average was 8.6%), up from 0.1% in 2021-2022.
Learn more about the DAC Declaration on Aligning Development Co-operation with the Goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
In 2024, Latvia:
Allocated 4.8% of its bilateral ODA (USD 1.3 million) to core poverty-reducing sectors as defined by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1.a.1. This indicator captures grants to basic social services (such as basic health and education, water supply and sanitation, multisector aid for basic social services) and development food aid. Learn more by exploring the Reducing poverty and inequalities through ODA data explainer.
Committed USD 200 000 (2.2% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to address the immediate or underlying determinants of malnutrition in developing countries across a variety of sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, unallocated/unspecified and health.
Committed USD 800 000 (7.1% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to development co-operation projects and programmes that promote the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Committed USD 1.1 million (9.8% of its bilateral allocable ODA) to promote aid for trade and improve developing countries’ trade performance and integration into the world economy in 2024. Learn more by exploring the Aid for Trade dashboard.
In 2024, total official and private flows from Latvia to developing countries amounted to USD 120.7 million in net terms. Official sources accounted for USD 88.2 million, while USD 32.4 million originated from private sources.
Total official support for sustainable development (TOSSD) is an international statistical standard that monitors and increases the transparency of all official and officially supported resources for financing the SDGs received by developing countries (Pillar 1) and for addressing global challenges (Pillar 2). In 2024, activities reported by Latvia as TOSSD totalled USD 112.4 million, marking a 24% decrease compared with the previous year. Latvia’s TOSSD activities mostly targeted SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG 3 (good health and well-being).
Activity-level data on TOSSD by recipient are available at: https://tossd.online.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) – through its Development Co-operation Policy Division – is the key institution responsible for overseeing Latvia’s development co-operation policy. Latvia’s development co‑operation system saw a significant change in 2022 with the establishment of Latvia’s Development Co‑operation Agency, through the expansion of the functions of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA). The CFCA was pillar-accredited by the European Commission in 2024 and now acts as the single point of contact and co-ordinator of co-operation projects financed by the European Unionʼs external action instruments and other foreign providers of international assistance. The CFCA, despite being subordinated to the Ministry of Finance, operates in close co-ordination with the MFA through weekly co‑ordination meetings.
A total of 27 staff members work on development co-operation across the MFA, the Ministry of Finance and the CFCA. In addition, 55 staff members working in diplomatic missions, line ministries and other state institutions work part-time on development co-operation efforts.
Latvia fosters a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to development co-operation through the Consultative Council for Development Cooperation Policy, its established mechanism for development policy co-ordination and regular information sharing on implementation. The council meets at least twice a year to promote multi-stakeholder involvement in Latvia’s development co-operation policy.
The Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation promotes networking and collaborative activities among non-governmental organisations involved in international development co-operation.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development placed a renewed emphasis on strengthening the effectiveness of all forms of development co-operation by upholding and elevating the Effectiveness Principles. Adherence to these principles is measured through the partner country-led monitoring exercise of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.
Internal systems and processes help ensure the delivery of Latvia’s development co-operation. The table below highlights select features.
Access the full list of development co-operation providers at: Development Co-operation Profiles.
Development Cooperation Policy Guidelines for (2021-2027): https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/322455-development-cooperation-policy-guidelines-for-2021-2027.
Development Co-operation Policy Plan (2024-2027): https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/media/12051/download?attachment.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en.
National Development Co-operation Agency of Latvia – Central Finance and Contracting Agency: https://www.cfla.gov.lv/en/development-cooperation-agency-latvia.
Latvia has been a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) since 2025.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied, including the grant-equivalent methodology, core and earmarked contributions to multilateral organisations, country programmable aid, channels of delivery, bilateral ODA unspecified/unallocated, bilateral allocable ODA, the gender equality policy marker, and the environment markers.
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
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The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
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← 1. DAC members adopted the grant-equivalent methodology starting from their reporting of 2018 data as a more accurate way to count the donor effort in development loans. See the methodological notes for further details.
← 2. Aid per person in extreme poverty is calculated by dividing net ODA (bilateral and imputed multilateral) by the population in extreme poverty in each country. It estimates how much ODA each person in extreme poverty would receive if total ODA was divided evenly among the extreme poor. This metric does not measure the amount of ODA actually received by each person in extreme poverty, nor does it measure how much ODA goes to poverty reduction. It instead highlights patterns in total ODA allocations relative to the number of people living in extreme poverty in each country. Group averages are calculated based on a weighted average of aid per person in extreme poverty and the number of people in extreme poverty for each country in the group. See the methodological notes for further details.